Today, the federal government begins its malaria vaccination program for children in Kebbi and Bayelsa states, marking a historic step in Nigeria’s fight against the disease. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has integrated the vaccine into the National Immunization Schedule, targeting children aged 5–15 months.
This initiative follows the October donation of one million R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine doses by Gavi, supported by UNICEF and WHO. Kebbi aims to vaccinate 595,000 children in this first phase, with plans to expand to more states by 2025.
The vaccine, developed at Oxford University, is expected to significantly reduce malaria-related deaths, particularly in Nigeria, which bears 27% of the global malaria burden. WHO Representative Dr. Walter Mulombo hailed it as a game-changer for achieving a malaria-free Africa.
